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Aircraft Art


A troop 7/17 Snake at Dalat
image courtesy of Steve Shepard, C troop 7/17

170th AHC Aircraft
image courtesy of Steve Shepard, C troop 7/17

Long Knife (D troop 3/5 Cav Lift Platoon) nose art 1971 Vinh Long RVN. "I seem to remember there was a flurry of nose art activity in '71. The crew chiefs were taking their doors and stuff to an artist that was in the town in Vinh Long. Probably the same artist did the work on the "Dutchmasters" (B troop 7/1 Cav) aircraft". Don Callison D trp 3/5 Cav.
image courtesy of M. Clark

"The nose art is basically the standard design of several of our Huey's but I added the name "Tumbleweed". That's what I called my ship.   The door art was a take off of a Sunday morning cartoon character. My CE at that point was a Sergeant John Sulfridge. We had to sneak the parts down town and have the art work done. I sent him in while I waited in the jeep. That was a mistake as you see my last name is misspelled. I was with D-Troop 3/5th From Sept '70 to '71. We changed our Unit to C 3/17 sometime before I left. I was the "Slick" Platoon Commander "Long Knife 26".
image courtesy of Mike Rokey

"My last CE was Sgt Paul Zaneske. He was, to coin a phrase "The hardest working man in show business". He really made a hot rod out of #336. Paul later found  "our" old ship in Seattle. She made it back too!"
image courtesy of Mike Rokey

61st AHC Bird - 034
image courtesy of Dee Smith

Robert Hraban (standing on left) with the OH-6A "Iron Butterfly" of B troop, 1/9 Cav.
image courtesy of Robert Hraben B troop 1/9

C troop, 16th Cav's "Joan of Arc" with a .50 cal. strike in rotor blade - circa 1970
image courtesy of Woody Mashburn

Found on the nose of the 1st Platoon Hueys in the 117th AHC, Little Annie Fanny led the Beach Bums, and later Warlords, into hot LZ's from Kontom to Can Tho. She should be considered a traditional symbol of the American soldier's fighting spirit - straight from the cartoon pages of the 1960's Playboy magazine.
images courtesy of James Fischer

Nose door Salvaged from the "Iron Butterfly II" of the 114th AHC - period photo
images courtesy of John Jones


Image courtesy of Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Joe Stone

Razorback ship of the 120th AHC
Image courtesy of Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Joe Stone

Nose art on F 2/17 Cav. ship. "Comanchero" designation carried over from the units days under Comapny A, 101st Aviation Bn.
Image courtesy of Richard Bittle

Warriors 336th AHC
Image courtesy of Don "RAC" Raczon 336th AHC

We were Battery E (AVN) 82nd Artillery. We did not have a unit patch...The A/C markings were red skid tips to denote an artillery unit and the Cav artillery patch on the nose.
Image courtesy of Ed Lemp

25 Avn Detachment bird
Image courtesy of Charles Waud

A "very" young me next to my aircraft's nose art.  I was with the 117th AHC in 1969 at Plantation airfield.
Image courtesy of Dallas E. Figgins

A "Combat Nap" under Louisiana Man at a staging field in the delta
Image courtesy of Bob Hesselbein

Razorback (120th AHC) Gunship.
Image courtesy of Claude "Chuck" Berry

C troop, 7/1 Cav Lift Bird with ARVN Aero Rifle troop
Image courtesy of Mike Conway

"Buzz Off" of the 121st AHC
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"Strawberry Bitch" of the 121st AHC (Namesake of the B-24 now in the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio - " I am pretty sure the pilot of that AC was the SON of the pilot who flew the B-24 on display at Wright-Patterson. Our company commander made him change it from "bitch" to "blonde" didn't want any "nasty words" being displayed. So this just might be the only picture of the original "Strawberry Bitch" of the 121st" - Lowell Eneix
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"Kaptain Klutz" of the 121st AHC
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"Harvy" of the 121st AHC
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"The Incredible Hulk" of the 121st AHC - This ship had some reason to be slung back to Soc Trang. On down wind it began to oscillate and the Chinook had to punch him off at about 300 feet. With about 40 guys watching including the AC. I had my camera and for the life of me don't know why I wasn't taking pic's. Dam! makes me sick everytime I think about it.
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"The In Crowd" of the 121st AHC - I think this AC got transferred to a scout and got killed. Bad memory, Can't remember his name but can see him clearly. Does anyone else have that problem? Hope it's not just me.
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"The Good Widow Mrs. Jones" of the 121st AHC - I think this was Capt.. Whites bird?
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"Peg of my Heart" of the 121st AHC
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"Tiger Lady" of the 121st AHC - in keeping with the 121st's nickname - "The Soc Trang Tigers"
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"The Tin Bin" of the 121st AHC
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"Mad Tom" of the 121st AHC - This guys first name is tom. The last I heard he was running a catfish co-op in Alabama? In the early 70's. He always caught the biggest fish. Got pics to prove it.
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"US BOND" of the 121st AHC
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

A Duck Strike on the Viking ship of the 121st AHC
Image courtesy of Lowell L. Eneix

"Wrecker" of the 93rd Trans Co., 1968
Image courtesy of CWO2 Lowell L. Eneix

Note the depiction of "The Good Widow..." Nose art on the cover of Lou Drendel's book "Huey". The 121st got a lot of coverage in the book.
Image courtesy of Forrest L. Webb

11th ACR Gun Platoon Logo
Image courtesy of Chuck Rollins

121st A.H.C.
Image courtesy of George Quackenbush via John Jones

121st A.H.C.
Image courtesy of George Quackenbush via John Jones

121st A.H.C.
Image courtesy of George Quackenbush via John Jones

121st A.H.C.
Image courtesy of George Quackenbush via John Jones

121st A.H.C.
Image courtesy of George Quackenbush via John Jones

C troop Lift bird with trademark Motto
Image courtesy of Bill Brooks

A 7/17 Cav Cobra with interesting "Kill" markings and the circular yellow tactical marking for C troop.  Cpt W. Dean Priddy on the left...  on the right is John Harden. Spring 72,  Camp  Holloway
image courtesy of Steve Shepard

Keith Alleger with "Pussy Galore" (Warlord 679) of the 117th AHC. Photo taken in the late fall of 1968.
Image courtesy of Keith Alleger

Note 335th AHC "Cowboys" unit insignia on door - "That's me next to the B-model gunship.We also carried unit insignia on our front doors-these were painted on sheet metal and "pop-riveted" to the doors. I have one of the originals from a wrecked aircraft
Image courtesy of Tillman Jeffrey, 335th AHC 1967-68

Smokey & 99
Image courtesy of Pat Ronan

The Judge
Image courtesy of Pat Ronan

I was the CE of Cobra 1 in the Cobra Platoon, 114th AHC, Vihn Long, 1965.
Image courtesy of Paul Kunkel

"Eve of Destruction" taken in September 1969 at the B /2/17th Banshee pad on Camp Eagle. A/C number was 68-15744... Named by WO1 Scott Kerr
Image courtesy of Bill Russell B/2/17th Air Cav, 101st Abn Div 1969, 334th Atk Hel Co, 1st Avn Bde 1970

My aircraft "No Slack" taken in September 1969 at the B /2/17th Banshee pad on Camp Eagle. A/C number was 68-15703... Named by CW2 Bill Russell
Image courtesy of Bill Russell B/2/17th Air Cav, 101st Abn Div 1969, 334th Atk Hel Co, 1st Avn Bde 1970

"No Quarter" taken in September 1969 at the B /2/17th Banshee pad on Camp Eagle. A/C number was 68-15702... Named by CW2 Jimmy Allen..
Image courtesy of Bill Russell B/2/17th Air Cav, 101st Abn Div 1969, 334th Atk Hel Co, 1st Avn Bde 1970

Canned Heat of B & E troops, 1/9 Cav. Roger Snow, gunner,  can be seen standing behind the pilot's door. The last three digits of the serial number were 555 so the ship was more often referred to as "Triple Nickel
image courtesy of Roger Snow

"The Lord's Prayer" of A troop 1/9
image courtesy of Robert Geiger

A 117th ship, crew and location unknown. Probably D/75 Rangers on board
Image courtesy of Tom Delaney photo via Randy White

The nose of our Night Hawk UH-1H, D Trp, 17th Cav, Da Nang, '72. Wish it was in color.
Images courtesy of Rich Neely

Rare and interesting shot, of Vietnamese artist as he applies artwork to Robert Stallings ship (114th Cobra Crew Chief 1969/70). This artist painted nose art to the 114th aircraft for many years, as well as helmet art and unit signage, a really talented guy! Robert remembers that the pilot paid the fee for this work, the cost.. $10 MPC!
Image courtesy of Robert Stallings via John Jones

This was a "Dark Horse" loach. I think they were C Troop16th Cav.
Image courtesy of Don Callison "Chicken Little"

WO1 Chip Parker  with one of the ARA acft flown in the Ia Drang Nov 65
Image courtesy of Mike  Sloniker 

'Whitchdoctor - 6 '
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Pilot 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

C troop Slick Crew Chief Olinger - W.I.A. 1971
Image courtesy of Al Sever, Crew Chief

Probably one of, if not The most recognable patches of the war was painted on the nose of this Company C, 227th CAB Bird
Image courtesy of Bill Blackburn via Joe Stone


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null

"Nice to see my ship represented. We were a Night Hawk that flew out of Soctrang with the 336AHC. They did spell my name wrong on the original. - Tom Wilkes"
Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null


Image courtesy of Jan Null

Sidewinders - 117th Guns (circa 1967)
Image courtesy of Dale Garber

"Pink Pussy" - short lived nose art found on a rough and ready 117th Slick (circa 1967)
Image courtesy Al Bennett

Unique nose art on C 3/17 Huey reflecting the feelings of the time-Crew Chief Ralph Chapman
Image courtesy of Ralph Chapman

OH-6A #17340 Miss Clawd IV in her revetment at Can Tho, 1972
Image courtesy of Hugh Mills

Capt. Dennis Haugen, A troop, 7/1 Cav with A troop "Apache" logo on door.
Image courtesy of Ron Woodgeard

D 3/5 OH-23 "Raven" featuring nose art of the "Spooks" Scout platoon (circa 1967). The "Spooks" were the predecessors of the Warwagons and possibly the only unit to fly the Raven in combat.
Image courtesy of Richard Bench

C 7/17 Snake driver Steve Shepard. Note circular C troop tactical marking below Shep's helmet as well as the "Score Board".
image courtesy of Steve Shepard

A D 3/5 bird with a circa 1969 "Scavengers" (maintenance platoon) nose art.
Image courtesy of War Wagon Crewchief, Jim Hyler via Don Callison

Here is a picture of my dad when he was the pilot of the "Hulk" helicopter at 121st. Lt.William G. McQuade in 1967
Image courtesy of Julie McQuade

A picture of my father, CWO-2 Melton (Mel) Lee Hinton of the 7/1 Cav, A-troop in 1971 or 72 next to his helo, "96 Tears", 434 are the last part of the serial number.
Image courtesy of Major Donald A. Hinton, USAF

OH-6 Sporting likness of the 1st Infantry Divisions 1st Brigade insignia painted on the nose.
Image courtesy of H.L. Mills

Another picture of my father and his Cobra "96 Tears".The Indian head design for A troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry regiment can clearly be seen on the "dog House" directly under the rotor blade as well as personalized name plate for Pilot and crew chief bearing the patch design for A/7/1 Gun Platoon.
Image courtesy of CWO-2 Melton (Mel) Lee Hinton courtesy of his son Major Don Hinton, USAF

Nose of the 391st Maintenance Detachment - part of the 68th AHC. This ship was called "Top Tiger Tail". A Rare example of Nude artwork that was authorized See story on 68th AHC page under "Companies".
Image courtesy of Dave Green 68th AHC Crew Chief

My cobra "027" Danang Airbase D troop 17th Air Cav
Images courtesy of Roger Grasman

This piece of Nose art lasted less than a month. This helicopter's crew chief was the pilot NCOIC for the Aero rilfle plt's birds. His name was SFC John R Rock. (AT this time the Sgt Rock Comics were hot). D/1/1 had deployed from Fort Hood to join with our parent squadron 1/1 Armord Squadron assigned to the American Div in Chu Lai. Enroute our orders were changed attaching the troop to 2/17 Cav, 101st. This was the period of time when the division went from Airbone, to Airmobile and back to Airborne (Airmoble) in less than 2 months. We had the first Cobras attached to the division and 1st Avn Bde units supporting the 101st were redesignated as 101 units . The Division had become the Army's second Airmobile Division As soon as the change was "Officially Completed" The word came down from Division Hqs there would be no Nose Art in the division and Sgt Rock disappeared.
Image courtesy of Ray Knight

Nose art for the BN commander of the 227th circa December 1970 (Lt Col Islan (spelling not sure)- Victor Call sign "Pouvoir 6".
Image courtesy of Michael Dwyer, Sp 4, Victor call sign "Blivet"

Born Free Dian 211 ACR
Image courtesy of William Powis

John Nielson (in cockpit) - who was my Dad's pilot when he was C.O. of A troop. Photo was taken sometime in June, 1966.
Image courtesy of Thad Cronen

Here a shot of the nose of my "C" Model gunship, after we got too close to the trees...Kontum, Vietnam (central highlands) 70-71. 170th AHC "The Buccaneers". Also a picture of a painting I bought and the artist (Joe Kline) painted the nose and door to my specs.
Image courtesy of David Hooper


Image courtesy of Steve "Tooth" Bookout Phoenix 62 & Razorback 33

Early 20th ARA Bird
Image courtesy of Louis Barber

W.O. 1 Matthew Lawless with A troop Gunship "The Grim Reaper", Summer/Fall 1967, LZ Dog.
Image courtesy of his son Brigham T. Lawless

Here are a couple of pics from my time in 'Nam....I was with the 114th AHC, and was assigned to our maintenance ship "Road Service". I was with them from 1971 to 1972.
Image courtesy of CSM Ed Hepler

"Big Bad John" of the 478th Aviation Company
Image courtesy of Courtesy SP5 Jerrell Strew, 1st Air Cav.,1965-1966


Image courtesy of Greg Windsor - 240th AHC

71 AHC nose art
Image courtesy of Jim Adams, 1st Platoon Leader, Dec. 68-Dec. 69

"Arizona Gambler", one of the Cobras working out of Quan Loi in 1969 with the 1st Cav
Image courtesy of Leif Aamot A/5/7 Cav

One of the slicks parked at LZ Buttons
Image courtesy of Leif Aamot A/5/7 Cav

We used the Griffin call sign for the UH-1's and the Little Griffin call sign for the LOH's. I recall, some time before I left in 69, that we had to give up the Griffin call sign because some other unit was using it. One of the nose paintings was "Virgin Eater”. Another was "Cherry Popper." This was based upon the logic that the mythical griffin only ate virgins - a perfect theme for young male pilots. Pilots' names in this shot are; left as you face the chopper - CWO Bruce Sutton, and right as you face the chopper - CWO Richard Vonhatten.
Image courtesy of Pete Rzeminski, CW2 (8/68 - 12/69), HHC (Avn Det), 1st Brigade, 101st Abn Div

Huey nose art located at Sc Trang or Can Tho
Image courtesy of George Caldwell

Huey Nose Art - 235th AHC or 1st Avn Brigade
Image courtesy of George Caldwell


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